The Old Power Returns

The Old Power Returns
Morven Westfield
Harvest Shadows
ISBN: 9780974174075
Fiction, Supernatural Suspense
Reviewed by John R. Clark

In a time when vampire books seem to have taken over entire genres (think chic-lit) and many of them are thinly disguised bodice rippers, it’s refreshing to read a book like this one. Morven Westfield has taken great pains to craft a good read that not only entertains and holds your attention, but has made certain the plot elements have solid structure.
Alicia Anderson is starting over after a near-fatal explosion at the high tech company where she worked. In addition to battling her phobias about large cities and her low self-esteem, she has to worry about the vampire who may or may not have been done in during the explosion. She also has to deal with the guilt of feeling like she abandoned
her friend Susie who hasn’t been seen since going on a date just before the explosion.
When she meets Meg, her former co-worker at the new job, it sets in motion a series of events that involve learning about witchcraft, saving another co-worker from a very disastrous relationship and the eventual discovery that there are more nasty things out there than she ever imagined.
I liked the book a lot. The author worked very hard to educate the reader about modern witchcraft practices without sacrificing any of the story. Her characters are well-developed and believable. Even though this is a sequel to Darkstone Thirst, I didn’t feel like not having read that book took anything away from my enjoyment. One thing I noticed that particularly impressed me was her smoothness when introducing Mike
Oldfield’s music. I have used similar introductions in both books and short stories, but
never felt I got it right. Little things like this are often what impress other writers. Read this book if you like a good story with some supernatural elements.